Recording/reproducing method, recording/reproducing apparatus, optical recording medium, and computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon program for the recording/reproducing method

ABSTRACT

A recording method for use by an apparatus and/or which is encoded on a computer readable medium includes selecting a defect management on mode or a defect management off mode that indicates whether defect management is to be performed or not while data is recorded in the recording medium, recording the data in the recording medium while defect management is performed on the recording medium, if the defect management on mode is selected, and recording the data in the recording medium without defect management, if the defect management off mode is selected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/821,187, filed Apr. 9, 2004, currently pending, which claims thebenefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2003-23727, Korean PatentApplication No. 2003-23728 and Korean Patent Application No. 2003-23729,which were filed on Apr. 15, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, and Korean Patent Application No. 2004-17253, filed on Mar. 15,2004 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of discs, and moreparticularly, to a recording/reproducing method, a recording/reproducingapparatus, an optical recording medium, and a computer readablerecording medium having recorded thereon a program for therecording/reproducing method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recent years have witnessed remarkable advances in optical recordingtechniques (i.e., techniques for recording data on optical discs). Withthese advances, various types of optical disc recording/reproducingapparatuses have been developed.

Write-once optical discs are a type of optical discs to which data canbe written only once. For example, conventional compact disc-recordables(CD-Rs) and digital versatile disc-recordables (DVD-Rs) are forms of thewrite-once optical discs. Generally, in the write-once optical discs, astate of a recording layer is changed by applying heat to apredetermined area of the recording layer using laser light to form arecording mark.

Defect management involves re-writing user data, which has been recordedin a user data area where a defect is generated, thereby compensatingfor data loss otherwise caused by the generation of the defect.Conventionally, defect management is classified into defect managementusing a linear replacement method and defect management using a slippingreplacement method. In the linear replacement method, an area of a userdata area where a defect is generated is replaced with an area of aspare area where a defect is not generated. In the slipping replacementmethod, the area where a defect is generated is slipped without usingsuch an area and a next area where a defect is not generated is used.

In the case of the linear replacement method, a block of the user dataarea where a defect is generated is called a defect block and the sparearea, which is a space for a replacement block for replacement of thedefect block, is provided in a predetermined area of a disc.

Since the write-once optical discs cannot be overwritten, defectmanagement methods different from those in rewritable discs may beadopted. In the case of the write-once optical discs, theabove-described defect management methods may or may not be used. Thus,there is a need for a method of using the write-once optical discs basedon whether defect management is used or not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a recording/reproducingmethod, a recording/reproducing apparatus, an optical recording medium,and a computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon aprogram for the recording/reproducing method, in which a write-onceoptical disc can be used according to whether defect management isadopted or not.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a method of recordingdata on a recording medium comprises selecting a defect management modeselectable between a defect management on mode and a defect managementoff mode that indicates whether defect management is to be performed onthe recording medium; recording the data on the recording medium whiledefect management is performed on the recording medium, if the defectmanagement on mode is selected; and recording the data in the recordingmedium without defect management, if the defect management off mode isselected.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording of the data inthe defect management on mode comprises initializing the recordingmedium to the defect management on mode, the initialization comprisingassigning a spare area for replacing a defect generated in a data areaof the recording medium to the data area; and recording temporary defectmanagement information including information on the assigned spare areaand an identifier indicating the defect management on mode, in atemporary defect management area provided in the recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording of the data inthe defect management on mode further comprises recording a replacementblock, which replaces a defect block concerning the defect generated inthe data area, in the spare area in predetermined operation units; andupdating the information on the defect and the defect managementinformation for defect management as temporary defect managementinformation in the temporary defect management area in predeterminedoperation units.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording of the data inthe defect management on mode further comprises changing a size of thespare area; and updating temporary defect management informationincluding information on the changed size of the spare area in thetemporary defect management area.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording of the data inthe defect management on mode further comprises converting the defectmanagement on mode into the defect management off mode.

According to an aspect of the invention, the conversion into the defectmanagement off mode comprises reinitializing the recording medium to thedefect management off mode; and recording the data in the recordingmedium without defect management.

According to an aspect of the invention, the reinitialization to thedefect management off mode comprises recording the identifier indicatingthe defect management off mode in the temporary defect management area;and recording temporary defect management information that is finallyupdated in the temporary defect management area in a defect managementarea provided in the recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording method furthercomprises finalizing the recording medium, where the finalization of therecording medium comprises recording a finalization flag indicating thefinalization of the recording medium in the temporary defect managementarea; recording temporary defect management information includingfinally updated information on the defect and defect managementinformation in the temporary defect management area in a defectmanagement area provided in the recording medium; and filling withpredetermined data a remaining area of the temporary defect managementarea where the data is not recorded.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording of the data inthe defect management off mode comprises recording the data in the dataarea provided in the recording medium in predetermined operation units;and updating recording management information according to the recordingof the data in a temporary defect management area provided in therecording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, the recording method furthercomprises finalizing the recording medium, where the finalization of therecording medium comprises recording a finalization flag, whichindicates the recording medium is finalized, in the temporary defectmanagement area; recording management information finally updated in thetemporary defect management area in a defect management area provided inthe recording medium; and filling with predetermined data a remainingarea of the temporary defect management area where no data was recorded.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofreproducing data recorded on a recording medium, which includes alead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area consecutively arranged,comprises reading defect management on/off mode information, whichindicates whether defect management was performed on the recordingmedium, from a temporary defect management area provided in the lead-inarea or the lead-out area, so as to update information on a defectgenerated in the data area and defect management information formanagement of the defect for every predetermined operation and readingdata recorded in the data area based on the read defect managementon/off mode information.

According to an aspect of the invention, the reproducing method furthercomprises reading finally updated information on the defect and finallyupdated defect management information from the temporary defectmanagement area, if the read defect management on/off mode informationis a defect management on mode.

According to an aspect of the invention, the reproducing method furthercomprises reading a finalization flag, which indicates the recordingmedium is finalized, from the temporary defect management area; andreading the finally updated information on the defect and the finallyupdated defect management information from a defect management areaprovided in the recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, the reproducing method furthercomprises reading final recording management information from thetemporary defect management area, if the read defect management on/offmode information is a defect management off mode.

According to an aspect of the invention, the reproducing method furthercomprises reading the finalization flag, which indicates the recordingmedium is finalized, from the temporary defect management area; andreading the finally updated information on the defect and the finallyupdated defect management information from the defect management areaprovided in the recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forreproducing and/or recording data on a recording medium comprises arecording/reading unit, which transfers the data with respect to therecording medium; and a control unit, which selects a defect managementmode as one of a defect management on mode and a defect management offmode that indicates whether defect management is to be performed whiledata is recorded on the recording medium, and controls therecording/reading unit to record the data in the recording medium whiledefect management is performed on the recording medium, if the defectmanagement on mode is selected and record the data in the recordingmedium without defect management, if the defect management off mode isselected.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forrecording and/or reproducing data recorded on a recording medium, whichincludes a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out area consecutivelyarranged, comprises a reading unit, which transfers data with respect tothe recording medium; and a control unit, which controls the readingunit to read defect management on/off mode information, which indicatewhether defect management was performed on the recording medium, from atemporary defect management area provided in the lead-in area or thelead-out area, so as to update information on a defect generated in thedata area and defect management information for management of the defectfor every predetermined recording operation, and controls the readingunit to read data recorded in the data area based on the read defectmanagement on/off mode information.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an opticalrecording medium includes a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-outarea consecutively arranged, a temporary defect management area forrecording temporary information on a defect generated in the data area,where the lead-in area or the lead-out area and temporary defectmanagement information are for management of the defect, and a defectmanagement area for recording final information on the defect and finaldefect management information and which are in the lead-in area or thelead-out area, where the temporary defect management informationrecorded in the temporary defect management area includes defectmanagement on/off mode information that indicates to a recording and/orreproducing apparatus whether data is to be recorded on the recordingmedium while defect management is performed on the recording medium.

According to an aspect of the invention, if the recording medium isinitialized to the defect management on mode, a spare area is assignedto the data area by the apparatus for recording a replacement block thatreplaces a defect block concerning a defect generated in the data areaof the recording medium in predetermined recording operation units, thedefect management area is empty, and the temporary defect managementarea enters a state where the information on the defect and the defectmanagement information for management of the defect can be updated inpredetermined recording operation units.

According to an aspect of the invention, if the size of the spare areaof the recording medium is changed and the recording medium isreinitialized, information on the changed size of the spare area isrecorded in the temporary defect management area.

According to an aspect of the invention, if the recording medium isreinitialized to a defect management off mode, information indicatingthe defect management off mode is recorded in the temporary defectmanagement area and temporary defect management information finallyupdated in the temporary defect management area is recorded in thedefect management area.

According to an aspect of the invention, when the recording medium isfinalized, a finalization flag, which indicates the recording medium isfinalized, is recorded in the temporary defect management area,temporary defect management information finally recorded in thetemporary defect management area is recorded in the defect managementarea, and predetermined data fills in a remaining area of the temporarydefect management area where no data is recorded.

According to an aspect of the invention, if the recording medium isinitialized to the defect management off mode, the defect managementarea is empty and the temporary defect management area enters a statewhere recording management information according to the recording of thedata in the data area can be updated in predetermined recordingoperation units.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a computerreadable recording medium encoded with programming instructions forimplementing a method of recording data on a recording medium performedby a computer, the method comprising selecting a defect management modeas one of a defect management on mode and a defect management off modethat indicates whether defect management is to be performed on therecording medium; recording the data in the recording medium whiledefect management is performed on the recording medium, if the defectmanagement on mode is selected; and recording the data in the recordingmedium without defect management, if the defect management off mode isselected.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a computerreadable recording medium encoded with processing instructions forimplementing a method of reproducing data recorded on a recordingmedium, which has a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out areaconsecutively arranged, as performed by a computer the method comprisingreading defect management on/off mode information, which indicates oneof whether defect management is performed on the recording medium andwhether defect management is not performed, from a temporary defectmanagement area provided in the lead-in area or the lead-out area, so asto update information on a defect generated in the data area and defectmanagement information for management of the defect for everypredetermined recording operation and reading data recorded in the dataarea based on the read defect management on/off mode information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent and more readily appreciated by describing indetail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a state diagram of a write-once recording medium according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram of a single recording layer recordingmedium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of a double recording layer recordingmedium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detailed data structure diagram of areas of the write-oncerecording medium according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining temporary disc management informationrecorded in a temporary disc management area according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining temporary disc management informationrecorded in a temporary disc management area according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a detailed data structure diagram of a temporary defectdefinition structure (TDDS) # i of the temporary disc managementinformation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a detailed data structure diagram of a space bit map (SBM) # iof the temporary disc management information according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a detailed data structure diagram of a temporary defect list(TDFL) # i of the temporary disc management information according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a data structure diagram of a defect list entry # i shown inFIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a recording/reproducingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 12A through 12E are flowcharts illustrating a method of using thewrite-once recording medium in a defect management (DM)-on mode or aDM-off mode according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a reference view for explaining a process of defectmanagement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a state diagram of a write-once recording medium according toan aspect of the present invention and shows the life of the write-oncerecording medium ranging from initialization to finalization accordingto a DM-on mode or a DM-off mode. The write-once recording mediumaccording to an aspect of the present invention can be used in two modesaccording to whether defect management is used or not. The first mode isthe DM-on mode in which data is recorded on a recording medium whiledefect management is performed on the recording medium. The second modeis the DM-off mode in which data is recorded on a recording medium whiledefect management is not performed.

In the DM-on mode, a spare area is assigned to a data area provided on arecording medium and data is recorded by a drive device on the recordingmedium while defect management and is performed with the intention of auser or a drive manufacturer. In the DM-off mode, data is recorded by adrive device on a recording medium without defect management, where therecording is performed with the intention of a user or a drivemanufacturer. Since the spare area assigned to a part of the data areais provided for defect management and since to defect management isperformed in the DM-off mode, it is natural that a spare area be notassigned in the DM-off mode. While FIG. 1 is shown without areinitialization from the DM-off mode to the DM-on mode, it isunderstood that such a reinitialization from the DM-off mode to theDM-on mode is possible to the extent that the DMA is not filled prior tofinalization.

DM-on Mode

The life of the write-once optical medium according to the DM-on mode isshown in an upper part of FIG. 1. In the following description, terms“disc” and “recording medium” are interchangeable and are not limited toa specific type of medium. When a disc manufactured by a discmanufacturer is first used, the disc is an empty disc 1 on which no datais written. However, the empty disc 1 includes a lead-in area, a dataarea, and a lead-out area that are assigned during disc manufacturing.The structure of the empty disc 1 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The sparearea shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are not assigned during disc manufacturing,but are assigned during disc initialization. Also, assignment of thespare area depends on whether defect management is performed on the disc1 or not. Thus, the spare area is represented using dotted lines.

If it is determined that the empty disc 1 is to be used according to theDM-on mode, the empty disc 1 is initialized to the DM-on mode. Fordefect management, the spare area is assigned to the data area of theempty disc 1 and initialization information for defect management isrecorded in a predetermined area of the empty disc 1. Assignment of thespare area will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 is a data structure diagram of a single recording layer recordingmedium version of the disc 1 according to an aspect of the invention.Referring to FIG. 2, a lead-in area, a data area, and a lead-out areaare provided in succession in the single recording layer. The lead-inarea, the data area, and the lead-out area are assigned during discmanufacturing. If defect management by a drive device is performed onthe disc 1 during initialization for use of the disc 1, a spare area isassigned to the data area. Referring to FIG. 2, two spare areas areassigned to the data area and the data area includes a spare area #1, auser data area, and a spare area #2. Data recording begins in a locationhaving a logical sector number (LSN) 0 of the user data area andprogresses towards a location having the last LSN. While not required inall aspects, the spare area #2 is used after the spare area #1 iscompletely written to (i.e., filled). In the spare area #2, if recordingprogresses in the direction from the lead-out area to the user dataarea, size change of the spare area #2 like extension or reduction canbe easily performed.

FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of a double recording layer recordingmedium version of the disc 1 according to an aspect of the presentinvention. The structure of the double recording layer recording mediumis similar with that of the single recording layer recording medium 1shown in FIG. 2. One layer of the double recording layer recordingmedium 1 includes a lead-in area #0, a data area #0, and a lead-out area#0 in succession. The other layer includes a lead-in area #1, a dataarea #1, and a lead-out area #1 in succession. It is determined thatdefect management by a drive device is to be performed during discinitialization. Thus, the spare areas #1 and #2 are assigned to the dataarea #0, and spare areas #3 and #4 are assigned to a data area #1. Inother words, the data area #0 includes the spare area #1, the user dataarea #0, and the spare area #2 and the data area #1 includes the sparearea #3, the user data area #1, and the spare area #4. To facilitateextension of the spare area #4, it is desirable, but not required to usethe disc 1 such that an LSN increases in the direction from the userdata area #0 to the user data area #1, as shown in FIG. 4.

The detailed structures of the lead-in area and lead-out area of therecording medium 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described withreference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a detailed data structure diagram ofareas of the write-once recording medium 1 according to an aspect of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 4, as described above, thewrite-once recording medium 1 includes the lead-in area, the data area,and the lead-out area in succession and the spare areas #1 and #2 areassigned to the data area during disc initialization for defectmanagement. The lead-in area includes a defect management area (DMA) #1,a drive information area, a temporary defect management area (TDMA), arecording condition test area, and a DMA #2. The lead-out area includesa DMA #3 and a DMA #4. Naturally, detailed areas assigned to the lead-inarea can also be assigned to the lead-out area in addition to or insteadof the lead-in area.

The spare areas #1 and #2 are provided to rewrite data in a replacementblock that replaces a block of the user data area when a defect isgenerated in the data recorded in the user data area. The driveinformation area is provided to record information on a drive devicethat loads a disc and records data in or reads data from the disc 1. Therecording condition test area is provided to allow the drive device toperform a predetermined test for the purpose of searching for theoptimal condition for recording/reproducing data in the loaded disc.

The DMA is provided to record defect information and defect managementinformation (DMI). The DMA includes a disc definition structure (DDS)for the DMI and a defect list (DFL) for the defect information and isprovided for compatibility with rewritable recording media or to readand record final defect information and DMI recorded in the TDMA duringdisc finalization.

The TDMA is written to while temporary defect management information isupdated. The temporary defect management information includes thetemporary defect definition structure, a space bit map (SBM) thatindicates recording or non-recording in blocks of a physical availablespace of a disc using bit values, and a temporary defect list (TDFL) forthe temporary defect information. In other words, the TDMA is providedto record temporary defect management information (TDMI) includingtemporary disc definition structure (TDDS), the SBM, and the TDFL.

The TDMA is specially prepared to implement defect management by a drivedevice in the write-once recording medium. Specifically, in rewritablerecording media, the DMA is only provided and the TDMA is notadditionally provided. This is because the write-once recording mediumcannot be overwritten as can a rewritable medium. Unlike rewritablerecording media, since the write-once recording medium cannot beoverwritten when the DMI is to be updated, a new area where updatedinformation is to be written is required. Thus, a relatively largenumber of areas are required in proportion to the number of times theDMI is updated. However, since the DMA is not large in rewritablerecording media, the TDMA is additionally provided in the write-oncerecording medium and the DMI is updated in the TDMA. Also, during discfinalization, finally updated TDMI in the TDMA (i.e., the TDMI as of alast recording operation) is recorded in the DMA as the DMI. Byrecording the DMI in the DMA provided in the write-once recordingmedium, compatibility with rewritable recording media can be achieved.For convenience of explanation, the DMI updated in the TDMA is referredto as “TDMI” and final TDMI recorded in the DMA is referred to as “DMI”.

Hereafter, the TDMI recorded in the TDMA will be described in detail.The TDMI includes the TDDS, the SBM, and the TDFL. When the TDDS, theSBM, and the TDFL are recorded in the TDMA, the TDDS and the SBM may berecorded in the same block and the TDFL may be recorded in anotherblock. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the TDMI includes a TDMI #0composed of a TDFL #0, a TDDS #0, and an SBM #0 and can be updated inunits of TDMI # i in the TDMA. As another example, as shown in FIG. 6,the TDMA is divided into two parts, a TDDS # i and an SBM # i may beupdated as one block in one part, and a TDFL #i may be updated as oneblock in another part. The detailed structure of the TDDS # i will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a detailed data structure diagram of the TDDS # i of the TDMIaccording to an aspect of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7,the TDDS # i includes starting location information of the user dataarea, ending location information of the user data area, sizeinformation of the spare area #1, size information of the spare area #2,a TDFL pointer, a recording condition test available location pointer, afinalization flag, and a DM mode.

The location and size of the user data area assigned to the data areaand the locations of the spare areas #1 and #2 can be obtained from thestarting location information of the user data area and the endinglocation information of the user data area. The size location of thespare area #1 and the size information of the spare area #2 are recordedas the TDDS and the size information of the spare area #1 or #2 ischanged if the spare area #1 or #2 is enlarged or reduced. The TDFLpointer indicates location information of a recently updated TDFL. Byusing the TDFL pointer, a finally updated TDFL can be easily found.

The recording condition test available location pointer indicateslocation information of the recording condition test area provided inthe lead-in area or the lead-out area of the disc, in which a test canbe performed. By referring to the recording condition test availablelocation pointer, a location where a test can be performed can be easilyfound without direct scanning of the recording condition test area.

The finalization flag is a flag for setting disc finalization and it ispossible to determine using the finalization flag whether a disc isfinalized or not. Although the finalization flag is provided in the TDDS# i in FIG. 7, the finalization flag may be provided in the SBM # i asshown in FIG. 8.

A DM mode of FIG. 7 indicates whether defect management is performed ona corresponding disc 1 or not. For example, when data is recorded on thedisc while defect management is performed on the disc 1, the DM mode isset to the DM-on mode, and when data is recorded on the disc 1 whiledefect management is not performed, the DM mode is set to the DM-offmode.

FIG. 8 is a detailed data structure diagram of the SBM # i of temporarydisc management information according to an aspect of the presentinvention. Referring to FIG. 8, the SBM # i includes an SBM header and abit map. The SBM header is an identifier indicating the SBM. The bit mapis an information map that indicates recording or non-recording in ablock of a physically recordable area of the disc using bit values. Forexample, a block where data is recorded is represented by “1” and ablock where data is not recorded is represented by “0”. In this way, itis possible to know recording or non-recording in each bock.

FIG. 9 is a detailed data structure diagram of the TDFL # i of thetemporary disc management information according to an aspect of thepresent invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the TDFL # i includes a TDFLheader, a defect list entry #0, a defect list entry #1, . . . . The TDFLheader is an identifier indicating the TDFL. The defect list entry # iindicates information on a defect generated in the user data area. FIG.10 shows a data structure of the defect list entry # shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIG. 10, the defect list entry # i includes stateinformation, a defect block physical address, and a replacement blockphysical address. The defect block physical address indicates a physicaladdress of a defect block of the user data area and the replacementblock physical address indicates a physical address of a replacementblock of the spare area, which replaces the defect block. The stateinformation indicates if the replacement information and consecutivedefect information. The replacement information indicates whether thedefect block has a replacement block. In other words, there is a stateof the defect block having a replacement block and a state of the defectblock having no replacement block. The consecutive defect informationindicates a state of the defect block when a defect generated in theuser data area is generated in consecutive blocks. In other words, whena defect is generated in consecutive blocks in the user data area, adefect list entry for each of the consecutive blocks is not made, butthe first defect entry of the first defect block among the consecutiveblocks and the last defect entry of the last defect block among theconsecutive blocks are only made. Thus, it is possible to save the spaceof the TDFL.

Hereto, an exemplary structure of a recording medium to which thepresent invention can be applied is described. Referring back to FIG. 1,after initialization to the DM-on mode of the empty disc 1, the DMA ofthe disc is empty and the TDMA enters a state 2 where the TDMA can beupdated. Update of the TDMA indicates that the TDMI is updated in theTDMA. Such update is performed in units of predetermined recordingoperation that may be one verify-after-write unit or a plurality ofverify-after-write units in which a block is recorded and then verifiedor eject units according to an aspect of the invention. Here, a blockmeans an error correction code (ECC) unit recorded in the disc. However,it is understood that other update methods can be used and/or performedother than in units of recording operations.

Data is recorded in the disc 1 of the state 2 while defect management bya drive device is performed on the disc. Then, the TDMA as shown in FIG.4 maintains a state 3 where the TDMI is updated according to datarecording simultaneously with defect management. While using the disc 1of the state 3, if any change occurs in the spare area, the disc 1 isreinitialized, the size information of the spare area of the TDMI ischanged, the changed size information of the spare area is recorded inthe TDMA, and the DMA is still empty. If the spare area assigned duringdisc initialization is entirely consumed and the spare area needs to beenlarged, or if the user data area lacks an area that data is to bewritten to and the spare area needs to be reduced, the size informationof the spare area is changed during use of the disc 1 (state 4). TheTDDS # i including such changes is recorded in the TDMA. Even after thesize of the spare area is changed, data is recorded in the disc 1 whiledefect management by the drive device is performed on the disc, and theTDMA is updated (state 5).

The disc 1 may be reinitialized to the DM-off mode during data recordingsimultaneously with defect management. When the disc 1 is reinitializedto the DM-off mode, for compatibility with rewritable recording media,final TDDS and TDFL information recorded in the TDMA are recorded as DDSand DFL information in the DMA and the TDMA is changed into the DM-offmode. In other words, an update is made in the TDDS shown in FIG. 7 bysetting the DM mode to the DM-off mode and finally updated TDDS # n andTDFL # n in the TDMA are copied and recorded in the DMA (states 11through 13).

Specifically, after being reinitialized to the DM-off mode, the DMA ofthe disc 1 is filled in and the TDMA enters the state 11 where the TDMAcan be updated. Since the DM mode is changed into the DM-off mode, datais recorded without defect management and the TDMA is updated (state12). Since defect management is not performed, the update of the TDMAmainly concerns the TDDS # i and the SBM # i. However, if contentsunrelated to defect management are included in the TDFL # i, the TDFL #i may also be updated. While the disc 1 is used in this way, if the disc1 is finalized, the TDMA is filled in and enters the state 13 where thefinalization flag is set in the TDMA (state 13).

While data is recorded in the disc of the state 5 and defect managementby the drive device is performed on the disc 1, if the disc isfinalized, the finalization flag is set in the TDMA to prevent the discfrom being used after finalization, and finally updated TDMI in theTDMA, (i.e., TDDS # m and TDFL # m fill in the DMA and serve as finalDMI) (state 6). With reference to the embodiment in FIG. 7, thefinalization flag is set to “1” to indicate finalization in the TDDS andthe TDDS is recorded in the TDMA to indicate the disc is finalized.Also, to prevent the TDMI from being updated in the TDMA, predeterminedbits (e.g., “FFh)”, may fill in a remaining area of the TDMA where datais not recorded. As a result, the TDMA is filled in.

DM-Off Mode

The life of the write-once optical medium according to the DM-off modeis shown in a lower part of FIG. 1. If it is determined that the disc 1is to be used according to the DM-off mode, the empty disc 1 isinitialized to the DM-off mode. The DMA of the disc initialized to theDM-off mode is empty and the TDMA enters a state 7 where the TDMA can beupdated. The TDDS recorded as initial information in the TDMA duringdisc initialization includes starting location information of the userdata area and ending location information of the user data area the sizeinformation of the spare area #1 and the size information of the sparearea #2 are recorded as “0”. Also, the DM mode is set to the DM-offmode.

Since defect management is not performed during data recording, the TDDSand the SBM are mainly updated in the TDMA. Since defect management isnot performed, detailed data of the TDDS used in the DM-off mode may bedifferent. To differentiate the TDDS and the SBM used in the DM-off modefrom those used in the DM-on mode, the TDDS and the SBM used in theDM-off mode are called recording management information.

In the DM-off mode, data is recorded in the disc 1 without defectmanagement by a drive device and the TDMA maintains a state 8 where theTDMA can be updated. When the disc 1 is finalized, the finalization flagis set in the TDMA so as to prevent the disc 1 from being used afterfinalization (state 9). Also, the final TDMI (i.e., recording managementinformation) updated in the TDMA fills in the DMA and serves as finalDMI (state 9). The finalized disc 1 has a state where the finalizationflag indicating finalization is set in the TDDS or the SBM recorded inthe TDMA, the TDDS and the SBM that are finally updated in the TDMA arerecorded as DMI in the DMA, and equivalent values to “FFh” are recordedin a remaining area where the SBM can be recorded (i.e., the remainingarea of the TDMA) so as to prevent data from being recorded in theremaining area of the TDMA.

Hereinafter, a recording/reproducing apparatus that makes it possible touse the above-described disc will be described with reference to FIG.11. FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a recording/reproducingapparatus according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, therecording/reproducing apparatus includes a recording/reading unit 21 anda control unit 23. The recording/reading unit 21 includes a pickup torecord data on a disc 22, which is an optical recording medium accordingto an aspect of the present invention and/or, and reads data recorded onthe disc 22. The control unit 23 controls the recording/reading unit 21to record data on and read data from the disc 22 according to an aspectof a predetermined file system. In particular, according to the presentinvention, the control unit 23 determines whether to perform defectmanagement during data recording when the empty disc 22 is loaded in therecording/reading unit 21 and initializes the disc 22 according to aresult of the determination. Also, the control unit 23 controls therecording/reading unit 21 to recoded data in the disc 22 according tothe result of determination as described below in greater detail.

The control unit 23 includes a host I/F 24, a DSP 25, an RF AMP 26, aservo 27, and a system controller 28. During data recording, the hostI/F 24 receives a predetermined recording command from a host 29 andtransmits the predetermined recording command to the system controller28. The system controller 28 controls the DSP 25 and the servo 27 toexecute the predetermined recording command received from the host I/F24. The DSP 25 adds additional data, such as parity to data receivedfrom the host I/F 24 for error correction, creates error correctionblocks (i.e., ECC blocks) by performing error correction code (ECC)encoding on the data, and modulates the ECC blocks in a predeterminedway. The RF AMP 26 converts data output from the DSP 25 into RF signals.The recording/reading unit 21 includes the pickup to record the RFsignals transmitted from the RF AMP 26 on the disc 22. The servo 27receives a command necessary to servo control from the system controller28 and servo controls the pickup of the recording/reading unit 21.

In particular, according to an aspect of the present invention, thesystem controller 28 determines whether to use the disc 22 in the DM-onmode or the DM-off mode. Such determination indicates whether defectmanagement is to be performed while data is recorded in the disc 22.While not required in all aspects of the invention, the systemcontroller 28 detects input from a user or detects input from the drivemanufacturer and uses the detected input to determine whether the disc22 is in the DM-on mode or the DM-off mode. However, it is understoodthat the input can be otherwise received.

If the system controller 28 determines to use the disc 22 in the DM-onmode, the controller 28 controls the recording/reading unit 21 toperform defect management while data is recorded on the disc 22. Inother words, the system controller 28 controls the recording/readingunit 21 to record a replacement block, which replaces a defect block ofa user data area of the recording medium where a defect is generated, ina spare area of the recording medium 22 in predetermined operation unitsto and update information on the defect and TDMI for management of thedefect in a TDMA of the recording medium in predetermined operationunits. The system controller 28 further changes the size of the sparearea while the disc 22 is used in the DM-on mode as needed. The systemcontroller 28 controls the recording/reading unit 21 to recordinformation on the changed size of the spare area (if any) in the TDMA.

Even if the disc 22 is set to the DM-on mode during disc initialization,the system controller 28 can convert the DM mode of the disc 22 into theDM-off mode while the disc 22 is used in the DM-on mode. For suchconversion, the system controller 28 reinitializes the disc 22 to theDM-off mode and controls the recording/reading unit 21 to record data inthe disc 22 without defect management. In other words, duringreinitialization, the system controller 28 controls therecording/reading unit 21 to record information indicating that the disc22 is used in the DM-off mode in the TDMA and to record TDMI finallyupdated in the TDMA in the DMA provided in the recording medium 22.

When the disc 22 used in this way is finalized, the system controller 28controls the recording/reading unit 21 to record the finalization flagindicating that the recording medium 22 is finalized in the TDMA, torecord the TDMI finally updated in the TDMA in a disc management area(DMA) provided in the recording medium 22 as the DMI, and to fill withpredetermine data a remaining area of the TDMA that is not written to.

When the system controller 28 determines to use the disc 22 in theDM-off mode, it controls the recording/reading unit 21 to record data inthe disc 22 without defect management. In other words, the systemcontroller 28 controls the recording/reading unit 21 to record data inthe user data area provided in the disc 21 in predetermined operationunits and update recording management information according to suchrecording in a temporary defect management area provided in the disc 21.Also, in the same way as in the DM-on mode, when the disc 22 isfinalized, the system controller 28 controls the recording/reading unit22 to record the finalization flag, which indicates that the disc 22 isfinalized, in the TDMA, record the TDMI finally updated in the TDMA in adisc management area provided in the disc 22, and fill withpredetermined data in a remaining area of the TDMA that is not writtento.

During reproduction, the host I/F 24 receives a reproduction commandfrom the host 29. The system controller 28 performs initializationnecessary to reproduction. The recording/reading unit 21 projects laserbeams onto the disc 22 and outputs a light signal obtained by receivingthe laser beams reflected off the disc 22. The RF AMP 26 converts thelight signal output from the recording/reading unit 21 into an RFsignal, provides modulated data obtained from the RF signal to the DSP25, and provides a servo signal for control, obtained from the RFsignal, to the servo 27. The servo 27 receives the servo signal from theRF AMP 26 and a command necessary to servo control from the systemcontroller 28 and performs servo control on the pickup. The host I/F 24transmits data received from the DSP 25 to the host 29.

In particular, according to an aspect of the present invention, thesystem controller 28 controls the recording/reading unit 21 to read modeinformation from the TDMA provided in the disc 22 and read data recordedin the data area based on the read information. When the read modeinformation is the DM-on mode, the system controller 28 controls therecording/reading unit 21 to read finally updated information on thedefect and defect management information from the TDMA, and if thefinalization flag, which indicates the recording medium 22 is finalized,is read from the TDMA, the system controller 28 controls therecording/reading unit 28 to read finally updated information on thedefect and defect management information from the DMA provided in thedisc 22.

When the read mode information is the DM-off mode, the system controller28 controls the recording/reading unit 21 to read the final recordingmanagement information from the TDMA. If the finalization flag, whichindicates the recording medium 22 is finalized, is read from the TDMA,the system controller 28 controls the recording/reading unit 21 to readfinally updated recording management information from the DMA providedin the disc 22.

FIGS. 12A through 12E are flowcharts illustrating a method of using thewrite-once recording medium in the DM-on mode or the DM-off mode,according to an aspect of the present invention.

While not required in all aspects, the method in FIGS. 12A through 12Ecan be implemented as software readable by a computer. Further, it isunderstood that if the controller 28 is a general or special purposecomputer, the method in FIGS. 12A through 12E can be implemented by thecontroller 28 reading a computer readable medium to retrieve the methodencoded on the computer readable medium. Once the write-once recordingmedium 22 is loaded in a drive system, the system controller 28 of thedrive system identifies the loaded disc 22 (i.e., what the type of theloaded disc 22 is) whether the loaded disc 22 is recordable, and whetherthe loaded disc 22 is already used, using information stored in theloaded disc 22. If the loaded write-once recording medium is identifiedas an empty disc 22 in operation 10, the system controller 28 performsan initialization process according to a command of a user or theintention of a drive manufacturer.

In operation 15, the system controller 28 determines whether toimplement a DM mode according to the intention of a user or a drivemanufacturer. When the system controller 28 determines not to performdefect management according to according to the intention of a user or adrive manufacturer and selects the DM-off mode, initializationinformation is recorded in the disc 22 in operation 20, and the processgoes to A in FIG. 12E. Since defect management is not performed in theDM-off mode and the spare area is not assigned, the size information ofthe spare area is recorded as “0” in the TDDS recorded in the TDMA andthe DM mode is set to the DM-off mode.

When the system controller 28 selects the DM-on mode, it assigns thespare area to a portion of the data area of the disc 22 and recordsinformation necessary to defect management by a drive device and theinitialization information in the disc (operation 30). Morespecifically, initialization is included in TDDS #0, SBM #0, and TDFL #0and then recorded in the TDMA. With reference to the embodiment as shownin FIG. 7, TDDS #0 includes the size and location information of thespare area provided in the data area, the starting location informationand ending location information of the user data area, the TDFL pointer,and the DM mode set to the DM-on mode. Once the disc 22 is initialized,the DMA of the disc 22 is empty and the TDMA enters a state where theTDMA can be updated.

After initialization, the recording/reading unit 21 and the control unit23 performs recording through a verify-after-write procedure for defectmanagement in response to a recording command of a host (operation 40).Hereinafter, the verify-after-write procedure of operation 40 will bedescribed in greater detail with reference to FIG. 12B. In operation 41,user data is recorded in the user data area in units that theverify-after-write procedure is performed. In operation 42, recordeddata is verified to find a portion where a defect is generated and areplacement block that replaces a defect block is recorded in the sparearea. In operation 43, information on the defect is created and storedin the memory. In operation 44, it is determined whether a predeterminedrecording operation is completed. If the predetermined recordingoperation is not completed, a process goes to operation 41 and recordingis repeated. If the predetermined recording operation is completed, theprocess goes to operation 50 shown in FIG. 12A and in greater detail inFIG. 12C.

In operation 50, defect information and defect management informationare updated in operation units. The update procedure of operation 50will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 12C. In operation 51,information on the defect, stored in the memory, is read in. Inoperation 52, a defect list including the information on the defect iscreated. In operation 53, the created defect list is recorded as TDFL #i in the TDMA, where i corresponds to a number of the recordingoperation. In operation 54, TDDS # i and SBM # i are recorded in theTDMA. Detailed examples of such operation 40 of performing recordingthrough the verify-after-write procedure and operation 50 of updatingthe defect information and defect management information will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 13.

FIG. 13 is a reference view for explaining a process of defectmanagement according to an aspect of the present invention. Here, a dataprocessing unit can be divided into a sector and a cluster. The sectoris a minimum data unit that can be managed by a file system of acomputer or an application program. The cluster is a minimum data unitthat can be physically recorded in a disc at a time. In general, atleast one sector constitutes one cluster.

The sector comprises a physical sector and a logical sector. Thephysical sector is a space of a disc where data corresponding to onesector is recorded. An address used to find the physical sector iscalled a physical sector number (PSN). The logic sector is a sector unitused to manage data in the file system or the application program.Likewise, a logical sector number (LSN) is assigned to the logicalsector. A data recording and/or reproducing apparatus such as that shownin FIG. 11, which records data to and reads data from the disc, findsthe location of data to be recorded or reproduced on the disc using thePSN, whereas a computer or an application program for recording orreproducing data manages the entire data in units of logical sectors andfinds the location of the data using the LSN. The relationship betweenthe LSN and the PSN is converted using a fact of whether or not a defectis generated and a location where data recording starts.

Referring to FIG. 13, a user data area and a spare area are shown. Inthe user data area and the spare area, there is a plurality of physicalsectors (not shown) to which PSNs are sequentially assigned. LSNs areassigned to at least one physical sector unit. However, the LSNs areassigned to replacement areas of the spare area except for defect areasof the user data area where defects are generated. As a result, althoughthe physical sector and the logical sector are the same in size, if thedefect areas are generated, the PSNs and the LSNs become different.

The user data is recorded in the user data area according to asequential recording mode or a random recording mode. In the sequentialrecording mode, the user data is sequentially and continuously recorded.In the random recording mode, the user data is not necessarilycontinuously recorded, but is recorded at random. (1) through (7)indicate unit areas in which verify-after-write procedure is performed.The data recording and/or reproducing apparatus records the user data inthe unit area (1), the data recording and/or reproducing apparatusreturns to start of the unit area (1) and verifies if the user data isrecorded normally or a defect is generated. If a cluster where a defectis generated is found, the cluster is identified as a defect cluster andis designated as a defect area (i.e., a defect #1). Also, the datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus rewrites the user data, which hasbeen recorded in the defect #1, in the spare area. A part of the sparearea where the user data is rewritten is designated as a replacement #1.Next, after recording the user data in the unit area (2), the datarecording and/or reproducing apparatus returns to start of the unit area(2) and verifies if the user data is recorded normally or a defect isgenerated. If at least one cluster where a defect is generated is found,such a cluster is designated as a defect #2. In the same manner as theabove, a replacement #2 corresponding to the defect #2 is designated.Also, in the unit area (3), a defect area (i.e., a defect #3), and areplacement #3 corresponding to the defect #3 are designated. In theunit area (4), a part where a defect is generated is not found and thereis no defect area.

After recording and verification are completed to the unit area (4), iftermination of a recording operation #1 is expected (for example, if auser pushes an eject button or recording of the user data assigned tothe recording operation #1 is completed), the data recording and/orreproducing apparatus records in the TDFL temporary defect information(i.e., TDFL #1) location information of the defects #1 through #3 thatare generated in the unit areas (1) through (4). Also, managementinformation for management of TDFL #1 is recorded as TDDS #1 in theTDMA.

Once the recording operation #1 starts, data is recorded in (5) through(7) the same way as in the unit areas (1) through (4). Thus, defects #4and #5 and replacements #4 and #5 corresponding thereto are designated.The defects #1, #2, #3, and #4 are single defect blocks, each of whichincludes a defect. The defect #5 is a consecutive defect block whoseconsecutive blocks include defects. The replacement #5 is a consecutivereplacement block that replaces the defect #5. A block is a physical orlogical recording unit and may vary. If completion of the recordingoperation #1 is expected, the recording apparatus records temporarydefect information #2 (i.e., TDFL #2), including information on thedefects #4 and #5 and further records information recorded in thetemporary defect information #1 accumulatively. Likewise, defectmanagement information for management of TDFL #2 is recorded as TDDS #2in the TDMA.

Referring back to FIG. 12A, the system controller 28 determines whetherto change the size of the spare area in operation 60 when the spare areais not enough and needs to be enlarged or the user data area is notenough and the spare area needs to be reduced. If the system controller28 determines to change the size of the spare area, reinitializationinformation is recorded in the disc 22 in operation 70 and the processgoes to operation 40. In other words, the changed size information ofthe spare area is included in the TDDS and the TDDS is recorded in theTDMA.

Next, the system controller 28 determines whether to reinitialize thedisc 22 to the DM-off mode (operation 80). If the system controller 28determines to reinitialize the disc 22, the reinitialize information isrecorded in the disc 22 in operation 81 and the process goes to A shownin FIG. 12E. If the disc 22 is reinitialized to the DM-off mode, theDM-on mode set in the TDDS is converted into the DM-off mode to updatethe TDDS and the TDDS and the TDFL finally updated in the TDMA arerecorded in the DMA for compatibility with rewritable media.

Next, the system controller 28 determines whether to finalize the disc22 (operation 90). If the system controller 28 determines not tofinalize the disc 22, the process goes to operation 40 and recording isperformed through the verify-after-write procedure. If the systemcontroller 28 determines to finalize the disc, the system controller 28records finalization information in the disc (operation 100).

Recording of the finalization information in the disc of operation 100will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 12D. The systemcontroller 28 sets the finalization flag to “1” in the TDDS or the SBMin operation 101 and records specific values in the entire remainingarea of the SBM that is not written to in operation 102. According toshown embodiments, the specific values may be recorded in the entireremaining area of the TDMA that is not written to. In operation 103, thefinally updated TDDS and TDFL recorded in the TDMA fill in the DMA.

Next, operations when the DM-off mode is selected will be described withreference to FIG. 12E. In operation 110, the system controller 28controls the recording/reading unit 21 to record data in the disc 22without defect management. In operation 120, the system controller 28updates the TDMA. Since defect management is not performed, updates inthe TDMA are mainly to the TDDS and SBM. In operation 130, the systemcontroller 28 determines whether to finalize the disc 22.

If the system controller 28 determines to finalize the disc 22,finalization information is recorded in the DMA (operation 140). Therecording of the finalization information in operation 140 is the sameas the description set forth above with reference to FIG. 12D and is notagain set forth. If the system controller 28 determines not to finalizethe disc 22, the process goes to operation 110 and recording isperformed without defect management.

As described above, according to aspects of the present invention, arecording medium can be selectively used while defect management isperformed on the recording medium or not performed according to theselection. Also, it is possible to use the recording medium withoutdefect management even after using the recording medium while defectmanagement is performed on the recording medium. Additionally, therecording medium can be used compatibly with rewritable media. Moreover,the recording medium can be CD-R, DVD-R, Bluray discs, Advanced OpticalDiscs (AODs), rewritable media, magnetic media and/or magneto-opticalmedia which perform defect management.

The recording/reproducing method can be implemented as computer readablecodes in computer readable recording media. The computer readablerecording media include all kinds of recording apparatuses in which datathat can be read by a computer system is stored. Such computer readablerecording media are ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, magnetic tape, floppy disk, andoptical data storage, and transmissions via the Internet (e.g., carrierwave). The computer readable recording media can be distributed in acomputer system connected to a network, and can be stored and operatedin forms of computer readable codes. Functional programs, codes, andcode segments for implementing the recording/reproducing method can beeasily construed by programmers skilled in the art.

While embodiments of the present invention has been particularly shownand described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it willbe understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changesin form and details may be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention as uefineU by the followingclaims and equivalents thereof.

1. An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing data with respect to arecording medium, the apparatus comprising: a pickup which emits a lightto transfer data with respect to the recording medium; and a controlunit which selects a defect management mode selectable between adefect-management-on mode and a defect-management-off mode so that theselected defect management mode allows the apparatus to recognizewhether defect management is to be performed while data is recorded onthe recording medium, controls the pickup to record the data on therecording medium while defect management is performed on the recordingmedium, if the defect-management-on mode is selected, and controls thepickup to record the data on the recording medium without defectmanagement, if the defect-management-off mode is selected.
 2. An opticalrecording medium comprising: a lead-in area; a data area; a lead-outarea; a temporary defect management area to store temporary defectinformation on a defect detected in the data area and a temporary discdefinition structure used by a recording and/or reproducing apparatus tomanage the temporary defect information; and a defect management area tostore final temporary defect information and final temporary discdefinition structure recorded in the temporary defect management areaduring a finalization of the optical recording medium, wherein: thetemporary defect management area and the defect management area are inthe lead-in area or the lead-out area, and the temporary disc definitionstructure comprises information on a size of a spare area allocated inthe data area after a defect management on/off mode is selected duringan initialization of the optical recording medium.